WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 224 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 34.8 C 7.0 C Tuesday, October 06, 2020 | 20-06-2077 Bhairahawa Jumla NCP conflict plays out in Province 5, Congress jumps into the fray Provincial assembly members from the opposition resort to vandalism amid dispute in the ruling party over declaring name and capital of the province.

TIKA R PRADHAN Some Congress leaders flung chairs KATHMANDU, OCT 5 and disrupted the assembly meeting. Just as Congress leaders vandalised Province 5 has become the latest the assembly, Bhoj Prasad Shrestha, a victim of the ruling Nepal Communist provincial assembly member from the Party’s internal conflict, and the Nepal Communist Party, said that the Nepali Congress, which is also the [provincial] government’s proposal on main opposition in the province, has the province name and its capital was added fuel to the fire. wrong. In a bid to strike a balance inside Ruling party leaders themselves are the party, Nepal Communist Party divided over the proposal, with some chairs KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa opposing the decision to declare Rapti Kamal Dahal last week “instructed” Valley-Deukhuri the provincial capital. Shankar Pokhrel, chief minister of At the heart of the discontent are Province 5, to name the province two senior leaders of the Nepal Lumbini and declare Rapti Valley- Communist Party–Pokhrel, the chief Deukhuri its capital. minister, and Bishnu Poudel, the par- The ruling party’s order, which has ty’s general secretary. faced criticism for undermining the Pokhrel is from Dang while Poudel spirit of federalism, has not gone is from Rupandehi. POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI down well with a section of the “The two leaders made the capital Two boys chase a flock of pigeons at Hanuman Dhoka in Kathmandu on Monday. Pigeons come to the area since people feed them maize ruling party itself. city their agenda during the election. kernels which they buy from vendors there. In a bid to smoothly get the That was a mistake,” said Ghanashyam proposal endorsed as per Oli and Bhusal, a minister in the federal gov- Dahal’s instruction, the party ernment who was elected to the House had issued a whip to its Province of Representatives from Rupandehi 5 Assembly members to vote in constituency 3. “Now we are facing its favour. the consequences.” Valley has run out of intensive care beds But as soon as Internal Affairs Members of the Nepali Congress and Law Minister Kul Prasad KC are siding with those Nepal tabled the proposal at the assem- Communist Party leaders who are bly and discussions started, demanding that Butwal, in Rupandehi, and ventilators for Covid-19 patients opposition parties, including the should be the provincial capital. Nepali Congress, protested. >> Continued on page 2 Even if the facilities are added, they will not be able to keep up with the growing number of cases, which will mean seriously ill patients won’t get the support they need, officials say.

ber of cases. “People will be deprived of basic health services if cases rise at the current pace,” said Adhikari, who is also the joint spokesperson at the min- istry. Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, which has been com- pletely converted into Covid-19 hospi- tal, could adjust only one serious patient on Monday after moving another from the intensive care unit to the general ward. All of its 20 intensive care unit beds and six ventilators are occupied, according to Dr Sagar Raj Bhandari, director at the hospital. “I have been getting calls from other hospitals and Health Ministry offi- cials since morning for ICU beds,” Raj POST FILE PHOTO: BEEJU MAHARJAN Bhandari told the Post. “But we can- People queue at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital for Covid-19 test. not arrange additional ICU beds and ventilators.” ARJUN POUDEL 19 designated hospitals for those close As new cases of Covid-19 continue KATHMANDU, OCT 5 to them. to spike and all intensive care unit But he cannot help them much beds and ventilators in public and Every morning, Dr Samir Kumar since those facilities are not available private hospitals that treat Covid-19 Adhikari of the Ministry of Health anymore with the exponential rise in patients of Kathmandu Valley una- gets dozens of phone calls from cases and more and more people get- vailable, seriously ill patients have no lawmakers and others asking him to ting seriously ill. choice but to be adjusted in general arrange for beds in intensive care He concedes that the government is beds or stay in their homes. units and ventilator support at Covid- not able to cope with the rising num- >> Continued on page 2 Multi-billion-dollar Nijgadh Airport project hangs in the balance Amid reports that the contracted Swiss company is ‘unofficially out’, officials say next Investment Board meeting chaired by Oli will decide how the project should move ahead.

SANGAM PRASAIN KATHMANDU, OCT 5

The future of the $3.45 billion Nijgadh International Airport project in Bara hangs in the balance. Amid reports that Zurich Airport International, which was named con- cessionaire in September last year to develop the project, has withdrawn, the Investment Board of Nepal, the government’s investment agency for large projects, said “no official” communication has come from the Swiss company. It had outbid competitors, including GMR Group, an Indian infrastructure giant, and had been given a September 30 deadline to submit its investment plan or request for proposal, a formal POST FILE PHOTO: LAXMI SAH application by a company, to construct Workers install a barbed wire fence at the proposed airport site in Nijgadh. the project. “But before the deadline, on due to Covid-19 related difficulties,” civil aviation sector caused by the September 29, the company emailed Dharmendra Kumar Mishra, the Covid-19 pandemic, it was unable to us stating that they [Zurich Airport board’s spokesperson, told the Post. submit the RFP within the given dead- International] were not able to submit “This doesn’t mean that the compa- line,” he said. “There is no further the RFP [request for proposal] within ny has decided to quit. The company development.” the drop-dead date of September 30 said that due to the ‘disaster’ in the >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K TUESDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2020 | 02 NATIONAL NCP conflict plays out in Province 5 ... PCR machine lies unused for

>> Continued from page 1 belong to, are committed to federal- Khand who is from Rupandehi. Top Butwal was declared the temporary ism,” said Rekha Sharma, a lawmaker Bahadur Rayamajhi who is from capital on January 17, 2018, pending a and central committee member of the Arghakhanchi-1 and Gokarna Bista lack of supportive equipment decision from the provincial ruling party. “They are still playing who is from Gulmi are also for Butwal assembly on the name and capital of regional politics. They are making a as the capital. the province. mockery of federalism.” Ruling party insiders say Oli agreed The machine was purchased at Rs 3.8 million to test swab samples in Mahakali Hospital According to the constitution, the A similar conflict had emerged in to Dahal’s proposal of declaring provincial assembly endorses the December last year when the ruling Deukhuri the capital as part of a larg- in Bhimdatta Municipality, but it has been sitting idle for last two months. name of the respective province and party instructed its provincial mem- er deal between them. Former Speaker its capital with a two-thirds majority. bers to vote in favour of Bagmati as Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who was BHAWANI BHATTA Given the composition of the the name of Province 3 and Hetauda elected from Dang, Kamala Roka of KANCHANPUR, OCT 5 Province 5 Assembly, a two-thirds as the capital. Some ruling party lead- Rukum, Onsari Gharti and Barshaman majority for the name and capital of ers had demanded that Dhulikhel of Pun of Rolpa have been backing the Bhimdatta Municipality in Kanchanpur had purchased a the province looked almost impossible Kavre be declared the provincial capi- decision to declare Deukhuri the capi- PCR machine for coronavirus testing almost two months from the very beginning. In the tal and a handful of Congress lawmak- tal. All four are leaders of the former ago. But the machine has not been put to use since there is 87-member provincial assembly, 61 ers had thrown their weight behind Maoist part y. no supportive equipment to run the machine. members are from the Nepal the call. After Monday’s disruption, the pro- Himal Bahadur Chand, spokesperson at the municipality, Communist Party, giving it a comfort- However, the assembly endorsed vincial assembly meeting was called said the local unit has also not been able to set up a separate able two-thirds majority. Bagmati as the province name and off after some members expressed laboratory. Meanwhile, there are 19 from the Hetauda as the capital. their views. The next meeting has “The machine has not been handed over to Mahakali Nepali Congress, six from Janata In case of Province 5, the situation been called for Tuesday noon. Hospital. It has been sitting idle for the last two months,” he Samajbadi Party and one from took an ugly turn on Monday. Political analysts said political said. “The provincial government did not help us manage a POST PHOTO: BHAWANI BHATTA Rastriya Janamorcha. Congress provincial assembly mem- parties should make rational lab or an equipment.” Over 100 swab samples collected in Bhimdatta are sent to But since politicians have a tenden- bers including Astabhuja Pathak, decisions and discourage regional pol- The machine was purchased at Rs 3.8 million to test swab Dhangadhi for PCR testing every day. cy to embrace regionalism, making a Baijanath Kalawar, Basiuddin Khan itics if they want to institutionalise samples in Mahakali Hospital but the hospital has not been pitch for their vote base and elector- and Rama Aryal smashed chairs to federalism. able to use the machine yet. Over a hundred swabs collected Kanchanpur. Among them, 86 are active cases. Health ate, there were indications that they protest the proposal, inviting criti- “We saw in the past too how leaders in Bhimdatta Municipality are sent to Dhangadhi-based experts said that the number of infected will rise in coming would readily shed their party colours cism from their party. bid to protect their regional vote base laboratory for PCR testing. In Sudurpaschim Province, PCR days due to the increase in people’s movement during and side with others across party lines “Smashing of chairs by the three when the name and capital for testing is currently being performed in the laboratories in Dashain and Tihar festivals. Siddharaj Bhatta, the coronavi- if that helped their politics. Nepali Congress members of Province Province 3 were being discussed,” said Dhangadhi, Kailali, Dadeldhura, Baitadi and Bajhang dis- rus focal person in the District Health Office in Kanchanpur, While the ruling party’s high-hand- 5 Assembly is against the policy and Shyam Shrestha, a political commen- tricts. Dr Hari Shrestha, medical superintendent at said, “People without any travel history have also started edness has become apparent in under- culture of the party,” tweeted Bishwa tator who has closely followed Nepal’s Mahakali Hospital, said, “The machine purchased by the showing symptoms of Covid-19. With the festive season mining the spirit of federalism when Prakash Sharma, the spokesperson of leftist politics for decades. “Parties municipality can test 96 swab samples at once. It needs addi- ahead, public movement is expected to increase. It is becom- it comes to choosing the name and the Nepali Congress. “The assembly and their leaders must make it a point tional parts, including automated RNA extraction, centri- ing increasingly important for the local governments to capital of the province, regionalism members of a party that trained com- to think if their decisions are in line fuge and biosafety cabinet. The hospital administration has increase their PCR testing capacity.” ultimately took the centre stage in munist parties, who vandalised ros- with the constitution.” invited a tender for the purchase of additional equipment Meanwhile, the laboratory services in Mahakali Hospital Province 5. trums and declared they would end According to Shrestha, Nepali polit- and necessary chemicals.” have been closed from Monday evening to Tuesday, as two Both ruling and opposition parties the parliamentary system, to trans- ical parties, both the ruling and oppo- “We will receive the additional parts and chemicals with- health staff working at the hospital’s lab tested positive for are clearly divided not over their ide- form are not given the freedom to vio- sition, have failed to uphold constit- in a week. The hospital is also constructing a biosafety level coronavirus on Monday. ologies but over which parts of the late its culture.” uonalism. laboratory to install the machine,” Shrestha said. “We Narad Bhatta, medical recorder at the hospital, said, “Lab province they belong to. While the action of Congress pro- “Our leaders seem to have zero should be able to start PCR tests in a month from now.” services have been closed for a day. We are going to sanitise Those representing Rupandehi, vincial assembly members on Monday respect for federalism and decorum of The District Coordination Committee in Kanchanpur and the lab and resume lab services from Wednesday.” Palpa and Gulmi are demanding that have received widespread condemna- an elected assembly,” said Shrestha. all its local units have agreed to manage funds for coronavi- On Sunday, the hospital had also closed all its Butwal be given continuity as the pro- tion, leaders from the ruling party “While the ruling party has under- rus testing in the district, but they have not disclosed the services, except emergency, for a day. The hospital had sani- vincial capital, while those represent- admit that at the heart of the problem mined the dignity of an elected assem- amount, according to Shrestha. tised all its wards after a patient in its ICU tested positive for ing Dang, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Banke and is their party leadership which has bly by imposing its decision on the So far, 848 individuals have tested positive for Covid-19 in Covid-19. Bardiya are rallying behind Deukhuri been imposing its decisions. provincial name and capital, the oppo- as the provincial capital. Against the decision to declare sition party has shown utter disregard “It does not look like our leaders, Deukhuri the capital, Poudel has the to the hallowed chambers by resorting regardless of which parties they backing of Congress leader Balkrishna to vandalism.” Multi-billion-dollar Nijgadh Airport ...

>> Continued from page 1 Bahadur Moktan issued a stay order was September 30, how long it would But a source at the Civil Aviation asking the government to immediate- operate the airport before handing it Authority of Nepal told the Post that ly stop felling of trees at the site, over to Nepal. the Swiss company is “unofficially which a division bench of Chief After the Supreme Court order last out” of the project and that the Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana December, Zurich International Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry and Justice Kumar Regmi upheld on Airport AG had asked for an extension is internally preparing to develop the December 22. to the earlier March 1 deadline to sub- project on its own. According to an environmental and mit a business proposal. The ministry had recently directed social impact assessment carried out The planned air hub at Nijgadh, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal by the Tourism and Civil Aviation about 175 km southeast of Kathmandu, to select a consultant to prepare an Ministry in February 2017, more than is expected to serve as an alternative ‘updated’ master plan for the proposed 2.4 million small and large trees need to congestion and winter fog at Nijgadh International Airport, to be felled to build the airport. In the Tribhuvan International Airport, the indicating that it doubts if potential first phase alone, in which one of the country’s sole aerial gateway. builder Zurich Airport International two runways and the terminal would The government had decided to AG will come up with a business be built, 769,691 trees spread over 2,500 develop Nijgadh International plan as promised, officials privy to the hectares would have to be cleared. The Airport, one of its most ambitious matter said. plan has drawn criticism from various projects ever, in 1995. The timeline for “Nepal has asked foreign investors quarters. the airport has been pushed back on to build such a large project but no one Environmentalists say that axing so multiple occasions amid concerns has done the homework to facilitate many trees would drastically affect about financing and legal issues over the investors. Investment is our need the biodiversity of the area. The its environmental impact. and we should welcome investors and results could be catastrophic for many Upon completion of the first phase facilitate them at every step,” an offi- animals that call the Nijgadh forests of the project, the airport will be able cial at the Civil Aviation Authority of home, they say. to handle 15 million passengers annu- Nepal said. “But there is a traditional The Civil Aviation Authority of ally and accommodate the Airbus mindset that the foreigners will take Nepal, the project executing agency, A380 superjumbo. A 76-km away all the money.” had recently said they had reviewed Kathmandu-Tarai expressway will On Sunday, Tourism and Civil the plan to reduce the environmental link the capital with Nijgadh. Aviation Minister Yogesh Bhattarai impact and the project would be “Such a mega project is difficult to told Parliament’s International spread over only 1,900 hectares in the construct as there are several contro- Relations Committee that they have first phase. versies,” lawmaker Deepak Prakash kept the option wide open to develop But the Investment Board of Nepal Bhatta, a member of Parliamentary the airport with the government’s decided to move ahead nonetheless International Relations Committee, own fund. and invited potential bidders on the told the Post. “We have time and again Since the investment board has not grounds that the court order only suggested that the government set up shortlisted other bidders, no other mandated that trees not be cut down, a special purpose vehicle to develop candidate can be chosen if Zurich but did not say that all work should such a project that lands in controver- pulls out. come to a halt. sy at every step.” On September 9, a high-level On January 17, the board formally The special purpose vehicle is a inter-agency project coordination and asked Zurich Airport to submit a busi- separate company that is normally facilitation committee, headed by ness proposal as the sole company to created in order to undertake a risky Minister Bhattarai, had asked the work in a public-private partnership project. But in the absence of such a Investment Board of Nepal to confirm model for the international airport in company, the Investment Board of the final investment decision on Nijgadh. Nepal makes decisions on it. Nijgadh International Airport with Under the public-private partner- The board’s next meeting that will potential builder Zurich Airport ship modality of ‘build operate and convene under Prime Minister KP International AG. transfer’, the Swiss company would Sharma Oli, who chairs the board, The proposed airport in Bara, slated fully fund the construction project. will decide how things should move to become the largest airport in terms The cost of the first phase of the ahead, according to Mishra, the of area in South Asia, has been development alone has been estimated spokesperson. embroiled in controversy over its at $1.2 billion. The meeting date, however, has not environmental impact. The Swiss firm was supposed to been finalised. “If it’s the issue of the On December 6 last year, the propose in the request for proposal time extension, the board will decide,” Supreme Court Justice Tanka documents, the deadline for which Mishra said. Valley has run out of intensive care ... >> Continued from page 1 “The government is working to increase the number of “Intensive care unit beds and ventilators available in the ICU beds and ventilators, but it will be lower than the pro- Valley have been fully occupied for the last four days,” Dr portion of the rising number of cases,” said Adhikari, the Government of Nepal Santa Kumar Das, coordinator of Covid-19 management joint spokesperson at the Health Ministry. Ministry of Water Supply team at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, told the In April, there were 1,551 beds in intensive care units and Post. “It is not possible to find an ICU bed or ventilator in 770 ventilators across the country. At present these numbers Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management any Kathmandu hospital at the moment.” stand at 2,600 and 900 respectively. According to the data provided by the Health Ministry, Das, the coordinator of Covid-19 management team at Project Management Office 11,074 people in the Valley have been infected in the last 10 Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, suggests setting days. As of Monday, 89,263 people throughout the country up intensive care facilities in one place, as a lot of technical Urban Water Supply and Sanitation (Sector) Project have tested positive for the coronavirus with 554 deaths. In staff would be needed to treat and manage seriously ill Panipokhari, Kathmandu the last 24 hours, 2,440 people tested positive, including 1,531 patients. If they are spread over a number of hospitals, he in the Kathmandu Valley. said patients, less likely to receive optimum care. The Ministry of Health said that 19 people died of the The Health Ministry has already recommended to the Notice of Intent to Award the Contract infection on Monday. Cabinet to enforce another lockdown when the number of (Date of Publication: 6 October 2020) With such a rapid rise in the number of new cases, the active cases crosses 25,000. number of moderate cases, which need oxygen supply, and According to Adhikari, 25,000 was the cut-off figure based As per Invitation for Bid published on 24 June 2020 in “The Kathmandu Post”, the employer intends to severe cases, which need intensive care and ventilator sup- on the ministry’s estimate as per availability of beds, award the contract as follows. This notice is as per Clause No. 27 of Public Procurement Act 2063 and port, have also increased manifold. including those at private hospitals. “The risk of infected people dying without getting oxygen “Our health facilities will be overwhelmed after that,” he Instruction to Bidders Clause No. 46.1. Following this deadline, the employer will go on recognizing the bids supply, intensive care and ventilator support has increased,” added. eligible to be approved. said Das. Public health experts say that time has passed to do many Doctors say serious patients admitted in intensive care things to contain the spread of infection. Corrected and modified units and placed on ventilator support need several days to “Authorities should now focus on increasing ICU beds, Selected Substantially Evaluated Bid Amount NRs. recover, as their lungs and other vital organs get seriously ventilators and oxygen supply to save lives,” Dr Mingmar Contract No. Details of Work Responsive Lowest damaged. Gyelgen Sherpa, former director-general of the Department (Inclusive of Provisional Evaluated Bidder But according to Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, a chief of Health Services, told the Post. “But it should not Sum and 13% VAT) specialist at the Health Ministry, the government has stop testing and contact tracing, which will always be Construction of decided to discharge patients in 10 days to lessen the important. It would be a big achievement if we can save M/S. TUNDI-ROSHAN- UWSSP/OCB-22 (National)/ Katahariya Storm pressure on hospitals. even a few lives.” ASHRAYA JV, Janakpur-4, 349,785,258.16 Data provided by the Health Ministry shows that there However, despite such warnings from the doctors and Katahariya_Rautahat Drainage Project, Dhanusha, Nepal are 559 intensive care beds and 239 ventilators in Covid-19 public health experts, the government has lowered the num- Rautahat designated hospitals throughout the country. Of them, 154 ber of tests, has not made contact tracing effective and has intensive care beds and 62 ventilators are in the Valley. not enforced its decision to maintain physical distancing.

C M Y K 03 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2020 NATIONAL BRIEFING Those deprived of Scholarship granted to 400 students affected by Covid-19 social security may get BIRATNAGAR: College of Business and Social Studies, Biratnagar, has financial assistance announced that it will grant scholar- ships to 400 students of grade 11 this PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA year. According to the college, it will KATHMANDU, OCT 5 provide full scholarships to 100 stu- dents and partial scholarship to 300 The government is preparing to provide financial assis- other students enrolled in grade 11 in tance to single women below 60 years and partially disa- the current academic year. Principal bled people after they were deprived of social security Sunil Shrestha said the college made allowance for months due to the new regulation in the the decision observing that many stu- Social Security Act. dents have been facing financial prob- While the government has registered an amendment bill lems due to the Covid-19 pandemic. to remove the regulation, the Parliament is currently in recess. Two rhinos found dead So as a stop-gap measure, the government is preparing to provide financial assistance to the groups who have CHITWAN: Two Rhinos have been found been bereft of the social security allowance. The assis- dead in Chitwan on Monday. Chitwan tance will be equivalent to the allowance for the first four National Park’s Communications months of the current fiscal year 2020-21. Officer Ashok Ram informed that one “On Sunday, the home ministry wrote to the finance of the dead rhinos was swept away by ministry seeking the latter’s approval to distribute finan- the Narayani river and was recovered cial assistance to the single women and disabled people from India in the morning. The who have been deprived of the social security allowance,” another one, a 10-12-year-old male, Jitendra Basnet, director general at Department of was found at Bankatta Bangchiya in National ID and Civil Registration, told the Post. “Once the Sauraha area. With this, the number finance ministry gives its approval, it will be sent to the of rhinos from the national park that Cabinet for decision.” have died since the beginning of this POST PHOTO: ANISH REGMI Basnet said the move was aimed at providing financial fiscal year has reached seven. Two men play Baghchaal, a board game that can be played with pebbles, without maintaining social distancing in Kritipur on Monday. succour to the deprived groups before the Dashain festival. If the Cabinet takes the decision, it will benefit over 400,000 single women and partially disabled people, accord- ing to the department. This is the second time the government is preparing to provide them with allowance in the form of financial assistance. A similar assistance was provided to them for Officials shut their ears to experts on Coivd-19 the final four months of the last fiscal year 2019-20. The government stopped providing the allowance to them in March after the new regulation was incorporated A group of experts has been trying to meet Prime Minister Oli for seven months to brief him on best practices, but to no avail. in the Social Security Act. According to the Department of National ID and Civil ARJUN POUDEL Dibya Sing Shah, have been in isolation due ase chain reaction tests, which does not The rapid diagnostic test was controver- Registration, there are around 350,000 single women KATHMANDU, OCT 5 to the infection of Covid-19. need viral transport media or RNA extrac- sial not only because of the alleged corrup- below 60 years and over 80,000 people living with partial As of Sunday, 144 people serving at the tion kits and machines, he said. tion when the government procured the test disability. The government simply does not listen. Prime Minister’s official residence in “Costs will come down drastically and but also medically. A lot of people, who were The government will have to arrange over Rs3 billion for That is a complaint that has been heard Baluwatar, including security personnel three times more tests can be performed for tested negative in a rapid diagnostic test the financial assistance programme. again and again. In this time of the pandem- from Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and the same price, when those viral transport later found infected with coronavirus, after Single women have been receiving Rs2,000 and disabled ic, experts that have been to Baluwatar have Nepal Police, have tested positive for media, RNA extraction kits and machines reaching their homes. people Rs1,600 per month as social security allowance. often said that Prime Minister KP Sharma the virus. are not needed. Further, results will come As of Monday, 89,263 people throughout The home ministry’s move comes following a letter sent Oli acts like he is listening, but suggestions Another expert, who does not want to be within two hours,”Adhikari said. the country tested positive to Covid-19 with by the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens are hardly ever followed. If anyone is out- named, said that the prime minister is say- There is also loop-mediated isothermal 554 deaths. In the last 24 hours 2,440 people on October 1 requesting for necessary arrangements to spoken, the person is often barred from giv- ing the same things, what is being fed to him amplification (LAMP) technology, which tested positive including 1,531 in the distribute allowance to the deprived groups. ing suggestions. by his close people and advisers. does not even require biosafety level-2 lab Kathmandu Valley. The Ministry of Health According to the Social Security Act, only single women A group of experts with degrees from top But the experts have solid, science-based and tests can be done in the field. The team and Population said that 19 people had died aged above 60 years are eligible to get social security allow- universities of the United States and and proven ways to help check the spread had also helped to develop “covidnp” app to of the infection on Monday. ance. In order to become eligible for allowance, single Australia and have experience working on of the virus. help in the contact tracing of the infected It is not only in the Prime Minister’s women under 60 years need to prove that they have no epidemics have been trying to meet the According to Adhikari, his team had people, which was launched in May but has Office that the culture of following the source of income or have fixed income below the threshold prime minister for the last seven months, made detailed plans from testing to contact not been used by the Health Ministry. advice of experts is missing. The story is a determined by the government. but to no avail. tracing, hospital management, economic “We also wanted to tell the prime minis- similar one in the Ministry of Health and Single women under 60 years were included in the social “Through his advisers, we have been try- management, and taking help of technology ter that the rapid diagnostic tests, which the Population, which has been leading the security allowance programme in 2009 following the ing to meet him since April but have not in dealing with pandemic to suggest to the government was preparing to use then, fight against the pandemic in the country. Supreme Court’s ruling that ordered the government not succeeded,” Dr Prabhat Adhikari, an infec- prime minister. could give misleading reports,” another Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal’s advisers to discriminate single women based on their age. tious disease and critical care expert, told There are a number of ways to increase expert of the team said asking not to be and officials at the Health Ministry not only Likewise, section 8 of the current law states that the the Post. “We were given an appointment testing by reducing current test costs by named. “But some people in his close circle underestimated the risk of pandemic say- people with total disability shall get disability allowance in with the prime minister thrice, but can- using US Food and Drug Administration were adamant to use rapid diagnostic test ing that the infection would be contained a sum specified by the government as the social security celled the meeting at the last minute approved kits and technology, said Adhikari. kits purchased through Omni Business within double digits but also harassed gov- allowance. every time.” For example conducting direct polymer- Corporate International.” ernment scientists speaking about the risks The legal provision made little headlines after it was Other experts in the group include an of the disease. passed by the parliament. But, after the government epidemiologist, an expert on management The Health Ministry had sought clarifica- stopped providing the allowance in March, it created an economy, information technology expert tion with Dr Sher Bahadur Pun for speaking uproar in Parliament and among stakeholders. and they believed that the prime minister out in the media and publishing articles In response, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on May 25 would listen to the experts and give them a cautioning the authorities to not rely solely had announced that nobody would be denied the allowance few minutes to put forth their suggestions. on rapid diagnostic tests. that they had been receiving. The government then swiftly “We have made some recommendations Dr Bhagwan Koirala, chairman of Nepal introduced an amendment bill to undo the regulation that to contain the spread of infection epidemio- Medical Council, who used to be invited at had blocked the allowance to many single women and dis- logically, managing the economy during the the Health Ministry’s discussion sessions abled people. pandemic and the importance of the use of said that he too had suggested a number of The government introduced the regulation with the technology to deal with it,” said Adhikari. ways to lower the costs of polymerase chain intention of cutting on the spendings in social security. “We had also incorporated suggestions from reaction tests some four months ago, but his Lily Thapa, founder of Women for Human Rights, said Dr Sanjeev Sapkota, who serves at the US suggestions were ignored. the law was a devastating blow to single women, most of Center for Disease Control and Prevention.” “When I realised that my suggestions are whom are poor, illiterate and have little support system. Advisors, instead, told them that the not taken seriously, I stopped going for the “Several of these women are totally dependent on state prime minister is well aware of the corona- meetings they convened,” Koirala told the allowance,” she told the Post. “Most of them are working virus, which is not a big deal and can be Post. “But now the exact thing that we in informal job markets such as restaurant and party pal- gotten rid of by drinking hot water with feared has happened. Infections are growing aces. After the coronavirus pandemic, they have lost their turmeric. at an exponential rate. But authorities are jobs which have made their lives more difficult. Depriving The next day Prime Minister Oli repeated clueless about how to handle it.” them of the allowance in such a situation is inhuman.” the same thing in Parliament that the dis- Experts say there is a reason experts are As per the population census 2010-11, there are 498,606 ease can be kept at bay by drinking “tur- not listened to. widows and single women. meric water.” “Why would they listen to experts, when Raju Basnet, general secretary of the National “Just sneeze and chase the virus away,” the pandemic has become like an opportuni- Federation of Disabled-Nepal, recently told the Post that Oli had said, addressing Parliament. ty to make money for some officials,” Dr the government should introduce an ordinance to start the Most of the advisors to the prime minis- FILE PHOTO COURTESY: PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE Lhamo Yangchen Sherpa, an epidemiolo- distribution of the social security allowance to the con- ter, including his personal physician Dr Experts allege that the prime minister only repeats things fed to him by his close aides and advisers. gist, told the Post. cerned groups. Snow leopards eating livestock despite availability of preys in habitat, study says Latest research on the snow leopard inside Shey Phoksundo National Park challenges commonly held notion that wild animals enter human settlements in search of food.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL era trap method to estimate snow leop- ard and livestock density appeared to central Himalayas in Nepal, had con- “Herders in Upper Dolpa keep their marginalised communities, eroding KATHMANDU, OCT 5 ard density and doubleobserver sur- have resulted in greater livestock pre- cluded that more than a quarter of the livestock for more days in their pas- their human tolerance of carnivores. veys to estimate the density of snow dation in Upper Dolpa, suggesting that animals consumed by snow leopards tures. These factors also have influ- The same lesson applies for the con- It was a common understanding that leopards’ main prey species—the blue an increase in livestock population were livestock. enced livestock loss patterns in Upper servation of snow leopards from retal- carnivores enter human settlements sheep (Pseudois nayaur). They also and/or snow leopard population could According to researchers, there are Dolpa and Lower Dolpa,” Khanal iation killings which may arise from due to the depletion of prey in their conducted household surveys to esti- potentially intensify predation. a myriad of factors responsible for added. “We found that herders owning livestock depredation. natural habitat. But a recent study on mate livestock population and number “Our finding suggests that livestock livestock depredation like the ecology a higher number of small-bodied live- “Human-snow leopard conflict over snow leopards challenges this notion. of livestock killed by snow leopards in depredation may well be largely deter- of snow leopards, livestock husbandry stock and those grazing a higher num- livestock depredation is the most per- The findings of the study published both Upper and Lower Dolpa. mined by the predator (snow leopard and herding practices, landscape char- ber of days in the pastures were likely vasive threat to snow leopards across in the international journal of British The total livestock population of density) and livestock density,” said acteristics, wild prey availability, hab- to lose more livestock overall.” its range in Central Asia and the Ecological Society last week suggested Upper Dolpa was approximately 13,000 Khanal. “The general hypothesis is itat type and structure, behavioural Findings from such studies and Himalayas. Livestock production or that livestock depredation level may while that of Lower Dolpa was approx- understanding the interplay between population is predicted to increase in largely be determined by the abun- imately 1,600. The household survey predator, wild prey, and livestock den- some areas of its range to meet the dances of the snow leopards and live- found that a total of 487 livestock were sity is essential for identifying mitiga- demand for cashmere,” said Khanal. stock in the area rather than the prey reportedly lost to snow leopards in tion measures for minimising conflict “Such an increase in livestock produc- density as the killing of livestock at Upper Dolpa and 30 livestock in Lower between the local communities and tion may depress wild prey population sites varied even at similar levels of Dolpa in the year of 2017. Goats and snow leopards. via fodder competition reducing the wild prey density. sheep accounted for 90 percent of the The snow leopard is listed as carrying capacity for the snow leop- According to Gopal Khanal, one of cattle loss to snow leopards. Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of ard population.” the researchers, the study was con- According to the livestock survey Threatened Species and occurs in 12 However, efforts to recover the snow ducted to better understand what findings, the proportion of livestock countries across the Himalaya and leopard population may have conse- drives livestock depredation by the lost per household was seven times high mountains of Central Asia. quences for local economies of herder snow leopard (Panthera uncial). higher in Upper Dolpa in comparison Fewer than 4,000 adult snow leopards communities as increasing snow leop- The study compared whether the to Lower Dolpa. are believed to occur in the wild as ard population also mean increased extent of livestock killing by snow “We found that Upper Dolpa with they continue to face threats due to risk for livestock predation, according leopards would differ in relation to higher snow leopard density and live- habitat loss, poaching and the impact to Khanal. densities of wild prey, livestock and stock density also had high livestock of climate change. “Mitigating livestock depredation snow leopards at two sites—Upper and depredation than Lower Dolpa which Snow leopards prefer to prey on and hence human-snow leopard con- Lower Dolpa—inside Shey Phoksundo has both lower snow leopard and live- FILE PHOTO COURTESY: WWF herbivores, such as blue sheep, Argali flict and retaliatory killing of snow National Park in Nepal. stock density,” said Khanal, who is The study concluded that snow leopards preyed on livestock in areas where the population sheep and ibex. But in many areas, as leopards require both measures to “It is commonly hypothesised that also an assistant conservation officer density of both the predator and the prey were relatively higher. in Upper and Lower Dolpa, snow leop- reduce/prevent livestock loss via lack of wild prey causes snow leop- at the Shey Phoksundo National Park. ards also prey on livestock, cattle, yak improved herding practices, like pred- ards to turn to livestock. However, it Upper Dolpa had higher snow leop- that lack of wild prey availability characteristics of the predator and and horses, bringing them into con- ator-proof corrals, and measures to can be the other way around as well: ard density (2.51 leopards per 100 sq leads to higher livestock depredation. predator abundance. flict with herders for livestock depre- offset the economic loss incurred due high wild prey density may increase km) and higher livestock density It turns out this is not always true.” “The proportion of small-bodied dation and exposing them at the risk to livestock loss via compensation snow leopard density and hence more (17.21 livestock per sq km) compared A similar study conducted in multi- livestock (goat/sheep) is also higher in of retaliation killing—a threat of payments,” Khanal told the Post. livestock depredation,” Khanal told to Lower Dolpa (1.21 leopards per 100 ple sites in India and Mongolia had Upper Dolpa. The higher proportion wildlife conservation. In recent years, the Nepal govern- the Post. “What we found was that sq km and 4.5 livestock per sq km). found that snow leopards in Asia of small-bodied livestock and total A study on understanding carni- ment has been focusing on managing even when wild prey density was the However, the blue sheep density would still prey extensively on live- livestock in the region also suggests vore killing behaviour based on the human-snow leopard conflicts. The same across two sites, the sites with was similar—1.81 and 1.57 animals per stock even when wild prey is available that livestock grazing there is more motivations for tiger killing in the Shey Phoksundo National Park has high livestock and snow leopard densi- sq km-- in Upper and Lower Dolpa. in high numbers. Another study, sparse, elevating the risk of livestock Sundarbans, Bangladesh, has shown been providing relief funds to local ty had higher livestock predation.” The study concluded that the com- which had analysed 347 scat samples, being attacked while grazing in range- that livestock depredation by wild ani- communities to compensate for the The researchers relied on the cam- bined influence of higher snow leop- collected across 5,000 sq km in the lands,” said Khanal. mals disturbs the livelihoods of often livestock loss.

C M Y K TUESDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL The response to the pandemic will Substandard mechanisms further isolate Nepal Businesses are out to cheat when the government mechanisms are flawed and weak.

Nepalis deserve the same amount of respect, and the same quality of consumer goods, as every other human being. But this simple truth has not stopped a couple of authorised dis- tributors of consumable products from setting up ethically reprehensible operations that changed the sell-by dates on a host of food items. This is disturbing news, and not only because the practice is illegal. Consumable and non-consuma- ble goods have best before or expiry dates for a reason. Beyond that cut-off date, the manufacturer is clearly stating that the quality and safety of the foodstuff cannot be guaranteed. In the best-case scenario, and still inexcusable, the consumer is being forced a subpar product—perhaps stale or off-flavour— which has been paid for with hard-earned money and trust. But things can go sour quickly from there. Packaged food can be infected in the long run. Seals may be broken or deteriorate over time. This means that a harmless can of tuna or packet of biscuits can, after its expiry date, contain bacteria or mould that can be seriously harmful if ingested. For a little additional profit, Ayan Distributors and United Distributors were willing to risk the lives of countless Nepalis. The department has caught the perpetrators red-handed this time, but it is still unlikely to scare other businesses to stop selling outdated and substandard food products to unsuspecting buyers. A World Health Organisation report from 2015 has estimat- ed that over 600 million people worldwide suffer from food- borne illnesses each year; food poisoning causes over 400,000 deaths each year. In the fiscal year 2018-19 alone, the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control filed cases against 148 companies and restaurants for failing to SHUTTERSTOCK meet hygiene standards or for selling contaminated food. want to learn about other cultures, layers of carpet. The opposition, a dif- have not been able to connect virtually. Much like the links Ayan and United have to big business A problem—be it an countries or people and were happy to ferent tribe that believes in the same My firm has been representing a global houses—Unilever and Vishal Group respectively—many of earthquake or a be one with our own extended family, things as the ruling party, is nowhere to company, and we have directly been the 148 entities then were subsidiaries of big corporations tribe or ethnic group. While Nepalis be found. told that the Nepal government does such as Bottlers Nepal, Ambe Group and Golchha Organisation, pandemic—is only recognised have in the past three decades spread The pandemic has made people push not believe in virtual meetings and that among others. Such examples over the years clearly show that around the world at a great pace, they the tribe mindset more—it means you people need to come in person to pres- live in isolation. The usual get-togeth- can hang out with your extended fami- ent any case for official masters. They the effect of being caught is not discouraging enough for such when it hits the capital. ers among Nepalis—with a fair bit of lies, political cartels and other groups are least bothered about what is hap- businesses—some of which take in millions in profit—to stop drinking and gambling among the men and you will be spared from being pening in other parts of the world, and their malpractices. while the women are in the kitchens— infected. So one can go and attend the do not care whether their own citizens The problem here is clear. The government and political SUJEEV SHAKYA over the weekends are no different in hush-hush parties, go to hospitals to live or die. parties actively subvert attempts to counter such practices, THE OTHER any part of the world than what they see the ill or attend funerals. They are The post-World War II and post-colo- protecting the businesspersons and providing them with would have looked like back home. I not bothered about what is happening nial Asia created Singapore, which VIEW have met many Nepalis in many coun- outside their own world. As infections then became a dominant global eco- political patronage. Then, in the few cases that do come to tries who have never shared a meal have increased in the Valley, people nomic hub. The oil crisis brought about light, it becomes tough to link the activities of subsidiaries to with a non-Nepali. There are some who have finally begun to realise that Covid- Dubai as a new hub in the Middle East. the powerful corporations actually backing them. Already in will tell you they hang out with some 19 actually exists. The 2008 financial crisis brought on the recent case, Vishal Group has denied any links—whether other South Asians, but it’s a closed changes for countries like Estonia and direct or indirect—with United Distributors. Finally, it Many have asked me as to why in my tribe mindset. The need to wake up Latvia to emerge as hubs of interest. becomes near impossible to prosecute such illicit activities. book Unleashing Nepal there is a chap- The current government has great sup- As the world will recover in a year or ter titled ‘Isolation’ and it is always Politics reflect the tribe mindset port from a section of people who have two from this setback, there are going Much of this is due to the weak provisions in the Consumer very easy to explain, at least in regards We currently have a bunch of commu- the means to silence critics. They to be new go-to places. New Zealand is Protection Act 2018. At most, the departments concerned can to the Kathmandu Valley. The Valley’s nists at the helm of affairs. And, they ensure the domestic equations are well definitely a contender, Vietnam is slap offenders with random fines and shutter a few warehouses residents seem to live in a bubble. Even are dealing with the infighting within maintained in return for plump posi- strongly emerging in Asia and in while leaving the systemic issues unresolved. When cases are after the many centuries of integration the ruling party, keeping the disgrun- tions and political protection. They do Africa, with a good control on the pan- serious enough to warrant real action, the cases are stuck in with the rest of Nepal, Kathmandu tled happy and covering up for the not care whether Nepal’s relations with demic, Rwanda is getting ready with the civil courts for years. Government mechanisms cannot be does not notice the problems in other favourites. The communists are busy India are at rock bottom and Chinese ambition plans on tourism and invest- regions. The devastation caused by deciding how to divvy up their alleged- investors complain of the same prob- ment. so weak to let off known cheats with a simple fine and not push floods and other natural disasters in ly ill-gotten gains. They are busy decid- lems as other investors. With the US, Nepal needs to wake up to the reality for harsher punishment. To truly put an end to illicit activities the Tarai or in the North or the West ing which child of which leader will get they threw out the Millenium Challenge that it is part of the global ecosystem; it that harm the consumer, the government and lawmakers must seem to be occurring worlds away, which part of the pie and which child is Corporation Nepal Compact, unoffi- will only benefit from this ecosystem if have the will to push through stronger measures. It may be too when in fact the nearest recent disaster too naughty to get anything. The dur- cially telling the international commu- it is an active participant. The coun- much to ask our subpar leaders and representatives to forgo occurred not even 70 kilometres away bar-like setup in Baluwatar is the cur- nity that Nepal does not want to con- try’s image as a tourist destination has relations with their alleged corporate masters, but the least from the Valley. rent favourite hangout of the nect with the world. There are other been hit by the way the government has Even just a century ago, Nepalis con- ruling elite. There are courts and cour- problems that make Nepal unappealing handled the pandemic. But there is still they can do is set up a consumer court system that will quickly ducted strict purification rituals for tiers. Sycophants are busy adding lay- for outside investors. Nepalis like their time to wake up, though the window and satisfactorily resolve consumer protection issues. those who crossed the seas. We did not ers of carpet to the already existing physical meetings so much that many may close soon if Nepal doesn’t act.

Europe’s double bind

allowing China to do what it wants. In The global competition the coming months, European leaders may be forced to choose between between China and the upholding such arrangements and preserving the relationship with the US puts pressure on US on security (arms control), the economy (trade rules), technology Europe’s regional order. (5G, semiconductors, etc), and climate negotiations. The US presidential election on MARK LEONARD November 3 could be a game-changer in the transatlantic relationship. A Trump victory would leave Europe even more on its own. But even if Trump loses to Joe Biden, allowing for a restored transatlantic bargain, the arrival of a new administration would not alter the long-term shift in US pri- Covid-19 has made a mockery of the orities, nor would it loosen the world’s great powers. US President American public’s attachment to Donald Trump promised to ‘make national sovereignty. America great again’, but his adminis- Last year, when French President tration’s handling of the pandemic Emmanuel Macron issued his contro- has been anything but great. Chinese versial warning about NATO’s ‘brain President Xi Jinping has often spoken death’, he was channelling a fear that of a ‘Chinese dream’, yet his own many European leaders privately response to the crisis has relied on hold: that the unipolar, Eurocentric, algorithmic authoritarianism. And rules-based order is being replaced by Europeans who often pay lip service to a quadrangle of chaos comprising multilateralism have met the pandem- China, Russia, Turkey, and Trump’s ic with closed borders and national America. In preparing for this possi- solutions, rather than leading a global bility, European leaders will have to response. abandon the notion that geopolitics is In fact, in Europe’s case, Covid-19 is a realm of permanent alliances and forcing a deeper reckoning. The post- institutions. To defend EU values and Cold War dream of a rules-based interests, they will have to assume international order with Europe at more diplomatic responsibility for the centre is in tatters, and the SHUTTERSTOCK regional security, pursuing a mix of European Union is now being buffeted Internet—the Chinese are increasing- issues, and American disengagement order being nested within a broader But, on the other hand, the global deterrence and dialogue vis-à-vis by both philosophical and geographi- ly using state aid and strategic invest- in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Western security framework, the two competition between China and the US Russia and Turkey. cal shocks. Philosophically, Europeans ments to manipulate markets and and the Balkans has created a vacuum domains are now increasingly in con- puts pressure on Europe’s regional In developing a new strategy, the EU are confronting the fact that raw undercut the West in key areas. that Turkey and Russia are rushing to flict with each other. order. The US is increasingly absent will need to make room for a robust power, not rules, is the main factor The geographic shock is that global fill. In the 1990s, Europeans assumed Europeans thus find themselves in from the geopolitical theatres that pose military component, even though its determining today’s global dynamics. politics is now centred around Asia that these other powers could be a double bind. On the one hand, they the greatest threat to Europe. And, foreign-policy strength will continue Over the past three years, Europeans rather than Europe. During and imme- accommodated within the European still depend on the US to uphold the under Trump, America no longer both- to depend largely on weaponising have watched their two biggest trad- diately following the Cold War, regional security order, with NATO global security order, and sustaining ers to consult European governments assets such as trade, technology, and ing partners transform from champi- Europe’s regional order and the and the EU serving as the main pil- this arrangement seems to require on its foreign policy, even concerning regulation. Instead of asking ons of globalisation into the leading Western-led global order seemed to lars. But, particularly during the last that Europeans assume more respon- countries—like Iraq—where Europe Germany to increase its defence exponents of ‘decoupling’. reinforce one another. There was a decade, the dream of European unipo- sibility for their regional defence, as has deployed troops. Worse, the US has spending to 2 percent of GDP, for Because neither America nor China genuine sense of transatlantic com- larity has given way to the realities of well as align closely with America in come to regard many of the institu- example, the EU should be asking wants a conventional war, both have munity and shared values, with multipolarity. its confrontation with China. In the tions and rules that were developed for Germans to use the remaining 98 per- taken to weaponising regional and Europe serving as the front line in the These twin shocks—the abrupt shift short term, China may well be the a Europe-centric world as impediments cent of their economy as a means of global institutions. While the United US-Soviet competition. Europe mat- from rules to power, and from Europe glue that holds the transatlantic part- in its confrontation with China. securing European interests in trade States has politicised what were once tered—and successive US presidents to Asia—have shaken Europe’s con- nership together, given that Americans For example, the Trump adminis- and other issues of concern. seen as public goods—including the were highly attentive to European ception of order. No longer are and Europeans share many of the tration has essentially made a bonfire financial system, interbank transfers, concerns. European plans for regional and glob- same concerns about that country’s out of longstanding multilateral Leonard is Director of the European the World Trade Organisation, the But the Sino-American rivalry has al arrangements mutually reinforc- state-led economic model and human- arms-control treaties, on the grounds Council on Foreign Relations. International Monetary Fund, and the shifted attention away from European ing. Instead of the European legal rights violations. that these constrain the US while —Project Syndicate

C M Y K 05 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2020 MONEY

FOREX US Dollar 117.57 Vegetable prices to remain high until new harvest Euro 138.14 Pound Sterling 152.14 Stock of rainy season vegetables brought from neighbouring districts have sold out and shipments from Tarai and India have yet to arrive, officials say.

Japanese Yen 11.13 KRISHANA PRASAIN Cowpea long was priced at Rs115 Tamang. Vegetables will become Chinese Yuan 17.31 KATHMANDU, OCT 5 per kg, French bean local and cheaper after shipments start coming hybrid at Rs95 per kg, and gourd at from the Tarai and India, he added. Qatari Riyal 32.29 Mamta Yadav grudgingly paid Rs150 Rs70 per kg. The price of smooth According to Tamang, the market for a kg of bitter gourd on Saturday. gourd has jumped more than three has been receiving 400 tonnes of vege- Australian Dollar 84.38 “Going to buy vegetables has become times from Rs33 per kg to Rs115. tables in recent days compared to Malaysian Ringit 28.31 a nightmare these days. From potato Sponge gourd increased by 41 per- around 700 tonnes before. to tomato, the price of daily essentials cent from Rs58 per kg to Rs82, and the Consumer rights activists said that Saudi Arab Riyal 31.35 has increased several fold,” said the price of okra has gone up by 53 per- the problem of arbitrary hikes in 34-year-old housewife from Baphal. cent from Rs62 per kg to Rs95. prices appears time and again because UAE Dhiram 32.01 “How can one run a kitchen on a lim- Likewise, cauliflower local has the government has not been able to Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank ited income with vegetable prices become dearer by 21 percent from control the middlemen in the vegeta- shooting up like that?” said Yadav Rs95 per kg to Rs115, and the price of ble trade. whose husband is the sole income cowpea long has soared by 47 percent Madhav Timilsina, president of the Shares earner in her five-member family. from Rs78 per kg to Rs115. The price of Consumer Rights Investigation The wholesale price of eggplant French bean local and hybrid has Forum, said that the government had Nepse 1,582.12pts -0.23% jumped by 118 percent in two weeks increased by 21 percent and 11 percent not fixed the market layers yet, and from Rs48 per kg to Rs110 per kg at the respectively to Rs95 per kg each. most of the traders do not keep HIGHEST LOSERS Kalimati vegetable and fruit bazaar. The price of pointed gourd local invoices due to which retail prices are PROFL USLB EBLCP CHL TRH SHIVM -7.19% -4% -3.89% -3.85% -3.8% -3.49% The price of bitter gourd soared by 126 has jumped by 47 percent from Rs78 jacked up steeply causing distress to percent from Rs42 to Rs95 per kg. per kg to Rs115. POST FILE PHOTO consumers. MODERATE LOSERS Binaya Shrestha, deputy director of The Kalimati vegetable market has Vegetable prices increased by 28.21 percent in mid-August 2020 from a month ago, according Local government agencies should SMB RBCLPO GFCL SLBSL NMB50 SIC -3.39% -3.26% -2.7% -2.68% -2.65% -2.62% the Vegetable and Fruits Market been receiving around 500,000 kg of to a Nepal Rastra Bank report. conduct market inspection of vegeta-

MODERATE GAINERS Development Board, said that the vegetables on a daily basis. Shrestha bles, fruits and meat products continu- SHPC AHPC DHPL AKPL API UNHPL stock of rainy season vegetables had said that supply had started increas- from the neighbouring districts had their produce during the first lock- ously, he said. 4.88% 5.49% 5.77% 5.96% 6.35% 6.36% sold out and the new harvest was yet ing gradually. all been sold, and prices had increased down due to which they have cut out- According to a Nepal Rastra Bank HIGHEST GAINERS to reach the market. “Prices will grad- Resham Tamang, administrator at because vegetable shipments from the put, he said. report, the price of vegetables LBBL HDHPC RHPC NFS KSBBL RRHP ually start to decline as soon as the the Balkhu Agriculture Vegetable Tarai and India were yet to arrive. Until the seasonal vegetables arrive, increased by 28.21 percent in mid-Au- 6.7% 7.63% 7.69% 9.24% 10% 10% new harvest arrives,” he said. Market, said that vegetables brought Farmers did not get fair prices for prices are unlikely to go down, said gust 2020 from a month ago.

BULLION PRICE PER TOLA Dollar holds breath Fine Gold Rs 94,100 Silver Rs 1,180 waiting for Trump health SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA updates, fiscal package GASOLINE WATCH REUTERS LONDON, OCT 5 Trump triggered The dollar index slipped slightly on Monday but was little changed from a stock market Friday’s close as financial markets waited for news about US President sell-off after his Donald Trump’s health and develop- Covid-19 diagnosis ments in fiscal aid talks in Washington. Trump said on Friday that he had on Friday. tested positive for Covid-19, triggering investor flight to safer assets and a stock market sell-off. Dollar-yen rose 0.3 percent to 105.615 But early in the Asian session, at 0659 GMT, recovering from its Trump made a surprise appearance in sharpest fall in more than a month a motorcade outside the hospital on Friday. where he is being treated, which Riskier currencies strengthened helped improve risk appetite. He could overnight but these gains abated by be discharged from the hospital today, the time European markets opened. according to his doctors. The Australian dollar was up 0.2 POST PHOTO: ANGAD DHAKAL “FX traders cannot agree on how to percent at 0.71735, while the New Farmers harvest paddy at Godavari Municipality in Lalitpur. Paddy, a major source of income for farmers, has started ripening in the hill districts interpret the recent news flow,” Ulrich Zealand dollar was down 0.1 percent ahead of the Dashain festival. Leuchtmann, Commerzbank’s head of at 0.6641. FX and commodity strategy, said. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s “The biggest issue for the FX mar- policy meeting and the Australian ket is: it is uncertain whether this has budget announcement are on Tuesday. made the biggest risk of the US, elec- Coronavirus restrictions in tions—a long political and legal battle Auckland will be lifted this week, New BIZLINE Debt cancellation needed to help poorest about the result—any more or less Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda likely,” he said. Ardern said. The euro was up 0.1 per- “A battle of this nature is only likely cent at $1.17260 at 0712 GMT. Ncell launches attractive if the contender Joe Biden wins,” The safe haven Swiss franc was up, festive campaign ‘Kurai countries, World Bank president says he added. “That might have become lifted by Japanese tech firm NEC say- more likely.” ing it will buy Swiss financial soft- Kurama Upahar’ REUTERS debt is reduced by restructuring,” investment funds to get involved too. Investors are also waiting for ware company Avaloq Group AG. KATHMANDU: Ncell Axiata Limited BERLIN, OCT 5 Malpass added. He pointed to similar “These investors are not doing developments in talks in Washington At 0702 GMT, euro-Swiss was down has launched an attractive festive steps in previous financial crises such enough and I am disappointed with about a coronavirus relief package 0.2 percent at 1.07620. campaign ‘Kurai Kurama Upahar’ The Covid-19 pandemic could trigger a as in Latin America and the so-called them. Also, some of the major Chinese after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Euro zone final PMIs for September for users of the voice service ahead debt crisis in some countries, so HIPC initiative for highly indebted lenders did not get enough involved. on Sunday reported progress i the are due at 0800 GMT. of Dashain, Tihar and Chhat. Under investors must be ready for granting countries in the 1990s. The effect of the aid measures is discussions. British Prime Minister and the this campaign, all prepaid subscrib- some form of relief that could also Rich countries last month backed therefore less than it could be,” the “Concrete developments have been head of the European Union’s execu- ers upon consumption of certain include debt cancellation, World Bank an extension of the G20’s Debt World Bank head said. Malpass thin on the ground and we doubt tive, Ursula von der Leyen, agreed in a minutes of assigned voice call President David Malpass was quoted Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), warned that the pandemic could trig- investors will want to chase risk phone call on Saturday to step up for making on-net, off-net or as saying on Sunday. approved in April to help developing ger another debt crisis as some devel- assets until more clarity has emerged,” negotiations on a post-Brexit deal, as international calls get the opportuni- “It is evident that some countries nations survive the coronavirus oping countries had already entered a ING strategists said in a note to cli- the December 31 deadline approaches. ty to win attractive prices, states are unable to repay the debt they have pandemic, which has seen 43 of a downward spiral of weaker growth ents, adding they expected the dollar The pound was at $1.2917 at 0721 the press release issued by the taken on. We must therefore also potential 73 eligible countries and financial trouble. index to trade in tight ranges. GMT, down 0.2 percent on the day. company. Gifts include daily on-net reduce the debt level. This can be defer $5 billion in “official sector” “The enormous budget deficits and The dollar slipped slightly against a In focus this week are the US bonus talk time to each customer called debt relief or cancellation,” debt payments. Amid warnings the debt payments are overwhelming basket of currencies, but its index Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes who consumes assigned minutes Malpass told Handelsblatt business pandemic could push 100 million peo- these economies. In addition, the held close to recent ranges, down less due on Wednesday and European of voice calls, Rs200 bonus daily in an interview. ple into extreme poverty, Malpass banks there are getting into difficul- than 0.1 percent on the day at 93.785 at Central Bank meeting minutes follow balance to 700 customers daily, “It is important that the amount of renewed his call for private banks and ties due to bad loans,” Malpass added. 0650 GMT. on Thursday. seven Samsung Galaxy M01s hand- sets to seven customers each week and two Samsung Galaxy Note 20 as bumper prize

India’s Classic Legends In US, pandemic pushes start of holiday shopping earlier than ever announces its foray into Nepal ASSOCIATED PRESS their usual holiday plans. NEW YORK, OCT 5 Thanksgiving Day doorbusters are cancelled. There will still be in-store Add last-minute holiday shopping to sales the day after Thanksgiving, but the list of time-honoured traditions companies are expected to try to steer being upended by the coronavirus many shoppers to their websites to pandemic. Retailers are kicking off avoid crowds and chaos. the holiday season earlier than ever “We’re preparing for a holiday sea- this year in hopes of avoiding big son unlike any we’ve seen before,” in-store crowds and shipping bottle- said Target CEO Brian Cornell. necks in November and December. With many people out of work and Stores like Best Buy, Macy’s, and even more uncertain about their eco- Target typically offer their biggest nomic futures, this isn’t expected to be Black Friday deals over Thanksgiving a banner year for holiday sales. weekend, but now they’re starting Shoppers will likely buy fewer gifts them in October so people don’t because they won’t be traveling to big crowd their stores later, creating a family holiday gatherings. And they’ll potentially dangerous situation dur- be focused on gifts related to activities ing a pandemic. around the home, from workout wear And with more people expected to to home goods and gaming consoles. shop online, retailers are trying to One bright spot: People are spending KATHMANDU: Classic Legends has avoid a rush of orders closer to less on experiences like travel and appointed Agni Moto Inc Pvt Ltd as Christmas, which could lead to late eating out, which have siphoned away its official distributor partner to packages and more expensive ship- holiday sales over the past few years. bring its Jawa and Jawa Forty Two ping. Many had a hard time keeping “Shoppers are going to be very models into the country. Jawa up with the surge in buying when selective in what they buy,’’’ said Ken AP/RSS Motorcycles will be available in deal- shoppers were locked down in their Perkins, president of Retail Metrics, a A display of Christmas trees stands next to holiday knick-knacks on display in a Macy’s department store in northeast Denver. erships located in Uttardhoka and homes during the early days of the retail research firm. “Retailers, par- Teka in Kathmandu initially and the pandemic. Even Amazon, which has ticularly department stores and spe- offer deals around the same time, too. pandemic is over. He likens it to when est to woo procrastinators. In October, network will gradually expand across spent 25 years building warehouses cialty clothing chains, need to get it Target and Walmart have already said most major stores started opening on TV and online ads paid for by trade the country, reads the press statement and a delivery network, had to hire an right in terms of inventory and cus- they will hold their own sales during Thanksgiving Day after one or two group National Retail Federation will issued by the firm. With the planned additional 175,000 workers to meet tomer traffic. They’re fighting for the same time as Amazon’s. Best Buy stores did it for the first time a decade push people to buy early. outlets becoming fully operational in demand. their lives.” will offer deals in October, earlier than ago as a way to jumpstart Black Friday MadaLuxe, which has three stores the near future, customers across Black Friday has long been the The first big holiday push will come it ever has. Even with the early start to sales. “This is here to stay,” Bines said. and distributes luxury goods to dis- major cities like Kathmandu, unofficial start to the US holiday sea- from Amazon, which is positioning its the season, holiday sales are expected “The new holiday season is October count chains, is bringing in holiday Pokhara, Itahari, Dharan, son, though retailers have been push- mid-October Prime Day as a kickoff to to deliver smaller gains than in recent through January.” items like blankets, pillows and pic- Narayanghat, Lahan, Nepalgunj ing holiday shopping earlier for the the holiday shopping season. This is years. But no one really knows what’s There are already signs of early ture frames in mid-October, a month and Butwal will be able to book last decade or so. the first time Amazon has held Prime going to happen. shopping. Kohl’s said shoppers have earlier than usual. I don’t think our and test ride the iconic models Jawa This year there’s more urgency. Day so close to the holidays. It’s usual- Joel Bines, who runs the retail prac- started searching for stocking stuffers customers are looking at holiday, but and Jawa Forty Two motorcycles in With the coronavirus still spreading ly in July, but was postponed this year. tice at AlixPartners, thinks the earlier and matching family pajamas on its we want them to,” said MadaLuxe their own cities. in the US, stores have had to rethink That will put pressure on stores to shopping will stick even when the website. Retailers will try their hard- CEO and president Adam Freede.

C M Y K TUESDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2020 | 06 WORLD

EXPLAINED BRIEFING

Pompeo arrives in Japan How does the Nobel for shortened trip TOKYO: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Japan on Tuesday Peace Prize work? shortly after midnight for a visit that has been cut short by President REUTERS test was in 1994, because Palestinian Donald Trump’s hospitalisation with OSLO leader Yasser Arafat shared the prize Covid-19. The trip has been scaled with Israel’s Shimon Peres and back to one full day in Japan after The laureate of the 2020 Nobel Peace Yitzhak Rabin. Trump took ill and the State Prize, one of the world’s top accolades, Department said Pompeo would not will be announced on Friday in Oslo. Who is nominated? go to Mongolia and South Korea as Here is a look at how the award works: originally planned. Pompeo is expect- Nominations are secret for 50 years, ed to meet with Prime Minister Who can win? but those who nominate can choose to Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday for the divulge their choices. first time since Suga took office and The prize should go to the person The only thing the Norwegian attend a wider meeting with the for- “who has done the most or best to Nobel Committee will comment on is eign ministers of India and Australia. AP/RSS advance fellowship among nations, the number of candidates. This year, That meeting of the Quad grouping— Medical workers transport a patient on a stretcher at a government-run hospital in Jammu, India, on Monday. the abolition or reduction of standing there are 318 contenders - 211 individ- the United States, Japan, Australia armies, and the establishment and uals and 107 organisations. and Japan—comes at a time of promotion of peace congresses”, Those we know are nominated are intense tension between Washington according to the will of Swedish Greta Thunberg and Fridays for and China. industrialist Alfred Nobel, the inven- Future, NATO, the European Court of tor of dynamite, who founded the Human Rights, Julian Assange, One in 10 people may have been awards. Edward Snowden and Chelsea Afghan president arrives Thousands of people can propose Manning, the “people of Hong Kong” in Qatar amid peace talks names: members of governments and and jailed Saudi activist Loujain KABUL: Afghanistan’s President parliaments; current heads of state; al-Hathloul. Ashraf Ghani arrived in Qatar infected with virus, WHO says university professors of history, social Other possible contenders, if for a bilateral meeting with top sciences, law and philosophy; and for- they are nominated, are Reporters leaders but will not hold a meeting mer Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Without Borders, the Committee with Taliban officials even as peace India registers 74,442 new coronavirus cases, driving the country’s tally to 6.6 million. among others. to Protect Journalists, Angela talks are under way in the country’s Merkel, the World Health Organization capital Doha, officials said on ASSOCIATED PRESS increase in deaths, while the situa- ter he was in contact with tested posi- Who decides? and its director Tedros Adhanom Monday. Negotiations between the GENEVA, OCT 5 tions in Africa and the Western Pacific tive for the coronavirus. Muhyiddin Ghebreyesus. Afghan government and Afghan were “rather more positive.” chaired an October 3 meeting attended The Norwegian Nobel Committee, Is Donald Trump nominated? Taliban that started last month The head of emergencies at the World “Our current best estimates tell us by Religious Minister Zulkifli which consists of five individuals are aimed at the warring sides agree- Health Organization said Monday its that about 10 percent of the global Mohamad Al-Bakri, who confirmed appointed by the Norwegian “best estimates” indicate that roughly population may have been infected by Monday he has been hospitalized for Parliament. They are often retired pol- He may be, but we don’t know. He is ing to a reduction of violence and a 1 in 10 people worldwide may have this virus,” Ryan told attendees from treatment. Cases in the country have iticians, but not always. The current nominated for next year’s prize, possible new power-sharing agree- been infected by the coronavirus— member governments who make up soared in recent days, hitting a record committee is led by a lawyer and by a Norwegian lawmaker and a ment in Afghanistan. Violence, how- more than 20 times the number of the executive board and provide much high of 432 new cases on Monday. includes two academics. Swedish parliamentarian, separately, ever, has not abated even as Afghan confirmed cases—and warned of a of its funding. Muhyiddin said he tested negative for They are all put forward by for helping broker a deal between negotiators have been engaged in difficult period ahead. The estimate—which would amount the virus in the past three weeks, after Norwegian political parties and their Israel and the UAE, and for peacemak- direct talks for the first time. Scores Dr Michael Ryan, speaking to a spe- to more than 760 million people based returning from campaigning in east- appointments reflect the balance of ing efforts in the Balkans. of Afghan soldiers and Taliban fight- cial session of the WHO’s 34-member on a current world population of ern Sabah state on Borneo island, power in parliament. ers have been killed in intensive executive board focusing on COVID- about 7.6 billion—far outstrips the which is a hotspot zone. But he said in What does a laureate get? clashes and suicide attacks have 19, said the figures vary from urban to number of confirmed cases as tallied a statement he will observe the quar- How do they decide? left dozens of civilians dead in rural, and between different groups, by both WHO and Johns Hopkins antine and work from home until A medal, a diploma, ten million recent weeks. but that ultimately it means “the vast University, now more than 35 million October 16. All those at the meeting Nominations close on January 31. Swedish crowns ($1.10 million) - and majority of the world remains at worldwide. will also self-isolate. Local reports Members of the committee can make immediate global attention. Virus-hunting trio wins Nobel risk.” He said the pandemic would Experts have long said that the said the attendees included several their own nominations, no later than South African Archbishop Desmond continue to evolve, but that tools number of confirmed cases greatly ministers, the national police chief, at the first meeting of the committee Tutu, the 1984 laureate, has said STOCKHOLM/BERLIN: Two Americans exist to suppress transmission and underestimates the true figure. the armed forces chief and the health in February. They discuss all the nom- becoming a Nobel laureate was a dou- and a Briton won the 2020 Nobel Prize save lives. The comments came during a spe- director-general. inations, then establish a shortlist. ble-edged sword. “One day no one was for Medicine on Monday for identify- “Many deaths have been averted cial session of the executive board to India registered 74,442 new corona- Each nominee is then assessed and listening. The next, I was an oracle,” ing the Hepatitis C virus, in work and many more lives can be protect- consider the follow-up to its previous virus cases, driving the country’s tally examined by a group of permanent he is quoted as saying in his author- spanning decades that has helped to ed,” Ryan said. He was flanked by his meeting, in May, that passed a resolu- to 6.6 million. The Health Ministry on advisers and other experts. ised biography. limit the spread of the fatal disease boss, WHO Director-General Tedros tion to look into the world’s—and Monday also reported 903 deaths in The committee meets roughly once and develop antiviral drugs to cure it. Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who minutes WHO’s—response to the pandemic. the past 24 hours, taking total fatali- a month to discuss the nominations. When is the Ceremony? The discoveries by scientists Harvey earlier led a moment of silence to Ryan warned that the world was “now ties to 102,685. India, the second They usually make their decision at Alter, Charles Rice and Briton honor victims as well as round of heading into a difficult period. The worst-affected nation in the world the final committee meeting, which It will take place on December 10, Michael Houghton meant there was applause for the health workers who disease continues to spread. It is on after the United States, is witnessing a tends to be at the beginning of October. the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s now a chance of eradicating the have strived to save them. the rise in many parts of the world.” sustained decline in new coronavirus The committee seeks to get a con- death. This year, due to coronavirus Hepatitis C virus, which causes cir- Ryan said southeast Asia faced a Malaysian Prime Minister infections and active virus cases have sensus on its selection. If it can’t, the restrictions, it will be held in the rhosis and liver cancer, the award-giv- surge in cases, Europe and the eastern Muhyiddin Yassin said he will remained below the million mark for decision is reached by majority vote. Court of the University of Oslo, with ing body said. (AGENCIES) Mediterranean were seeing an self-quarantine after a Cabinet minis- 14 consecutive days. The last time a member quit in pro- around 100 guests only. Delhi launches campaign to curb toxic air pollution ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW DELHI, OCT 5 Studies have suggested Authorities in New Delhi launched an anti-pollution campaign on Monday in an high levels of air attempt to curb air pollution levels ahead of winter, when the capital is regularly pollution can make covered in toxic haze, and warned that viral infections more filthy air could make the coronavirus pan- demic more dangerous. dangerous. The capital’s top elected leader, Arvind Kejriwal, said the government will start an anti-dust campaign, reduce smoke caused haze that obscures the sky and blocks sun- by agricultural burning and introduce a light. Pollution levels soar as farmers in mobile application that will allow citizens neighbouring agricultural regions set fire to lodge photo-linked complaints against to clear their land after harvests and pre- polluters. pare for the next crop season. Vehicle and “Polluted air can be life-threatening in industrial emissions, pollutants from fire- view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Both affect crackers linked to festivals, and construc- the lungs,” Kejriwal said. tion dust also sharply increase in winter, Health experts say high air pollution exacerbating the public health crisis. levels over a prolonged period have com- Anumita Roychowdhury, executive direc- promised the disease resistance of people tor at the New Delhi-based group Centre for living in New Delhi, one of the world’s Science and Environment and an air pollu- most polluted cities, making them more tion expert, said the causes of the capital’s AP/RSS susceptible to the coronavirus. poor air quality are well known, as are the Women wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus take a selfie at a Park in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday. Earlier studies have also suggested that actions needed to combat it. high levels of air pollution can make viral But she said the steps needed to improve infections more dangerous. air quality aren’t being carried out at the It is estimated that more than a million right scale. “It isn’t rocket science,” Indians die every year because of air pollu- Roychowdhury said. Suga defends tion-related diseases. New Delhi has had The national capital has often experi- Trump’s status unclear; could be 285,103 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, mented with limiting the number of cars including 5,510 deaths. on the road, using large anti-smog guns rejection of scholars Among the many Indian cities gasping and halting construction activity. But for breath, New Delhi tops the list every the steps have had little effect because discharged soon, doctors say year. Winters have become a time of health neighbouring state governments have for science panel woes, when the city is covered with a toxic failed to cooperate. REUTERS with a steroid, dexmethasone, that run a high fever on Friday morn- WASHINGTON, OCT 5 is normally used only in the most ing and he had been given supple- REUTERS severe cases. He is also just two mental oxygen. TOKYO, OCT 5 President Donald Trump could be days into a five-day course of Doctors not involved in Trump’s discharged from the hospital an intravenous antiviral drug, treatment said they suspected his Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide where he is being treated for Covid- remdesivir. condition might be worse than Suga, under fire for rejecting six 19 as soon as Monday (Washington Dr Sean P Conley, the White Conley let on. As an overweight, scholars for membership of a science time), according to his doctors, House physician, said on Sunday elderly man, Trump is in a catego- advisory panel, defended the move on although his condition remains that Trump’s condition had been ry that is more likely to develop Monday amid growing criticism that unclear and experts warn his case worse than he had previously severe complications or die from it violated the constitution’s principle may be severe. admitted. Conley said Trump had the disease. of academic freedom. Sequestered at Walter Reed Suga, who took office last month National Military Medical Center after Shinzo Abe resigned, has enjoyed outside Washington since Friday, high support among voters who Trump has released a series of approve of his promises to deregulate, videos in an effort to reassure the reduce mobile phone rates and public that he is recovering from a digitalise services as he tries to pandemic that has infected 7.4 mil- revive the economy and rein in lion Americans. Covid-19. “It’s a very interesting journey. I But his rejection of the six candi- learned a lot about Covid,” he said dates--some of them known for past in a video posted to Twitter on criticism of Abe’s policies--could Sunday. stoke a furore that threatens his hon- A return to the White House eymoon with voters. might help Trump project a sense At issue is the influential 210-strong of normalcy as he faces a difficult Science Council of Japan (SCJ), set up re-election battle against Democrat after World War Two to provide inde- Joe Biden. Trump’s doctors have pendent scientific input for policy. said his health is improving and he The six were among 105 scholars could be sent back to the White REUTERS recommended for membership of the House as soon as Monday. US President Donald Trump rides in front of the Walter Reed National Military Medical panel, which chooses half its mem- Yet they are treating Trump, 74, Center, in Bethesda, Maryland, on Sunday. bers every three years.

C M Y K 07 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2020 SPORTS | MEDLEY BRIEFING Liverpool, Man United lick wounds after big defeats Lewandowski gives Bayern last-gasp win over Hertha Watkins hat-trick gives Aston Villa 7-2 win over champions. Red Devils’ 6-1 defeat against Spurs raises questions if Solskjaer is the right man to lead them. MUNICH: Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski scored four goals AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE the first-half sending-off of Anthony including a stoppage-time penalty to MANCHESTER, OCT 5 Martial. give the German champions a 4-3 Former United defender Gary home win over Hertha Berlin in Liverpool became the first reigning Neville, now a TV pundit, described Bundesliga clash on Sunday. The English champions to concede seven their performance as “an absolute result left Bayern fourth in the stand- goals in a league match since 1953 and shambles” as they matched their 6-1 ings on six points from three games, Manchester United were thrashed 6-1 loss to Manchester City in 2011. one behind the top three led by as inquests started after a humiliating Club captain Harry Maguire apolo- Leipzig on goal difference, while day for England’s two most successful gised to fans in an Instagram post, Hertha slipped to 13th on four points. clubs. saying the performance was “unac- Lewandowski fired Bayern into a Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side thought ceptable” and Marcus Rashford said 40th-minute lead and they seemed to they had grabbed the headlines for all there were no excuses. Solskjaer took be in cruise control after he made it the wrong reasons against Tottenham the blame for the humiliation, which 2-0 in the 51st. Jhon Cordoba pulled on Sunday but Jurgen Klopp’s team once again raises major questions one back with a towering header upstaged them in a scarcely credible about whether he is the man to restore before Matheus Cunha equalised with 7-2 defeat against Aston Villa. Klopp the club to their former glories. “It’s a a low shot into the bottom corner. can argue Liverpool’s defeat is a horrible feeling, the worst day I’ve had Lewandowski again popped up at the bizarre one-off after an impressive as a Manchester United manager and far post in the 85th before substitute start to the season but United appear player,” said the Norwegian manager. Jessic Ngankam levelled three min- to be in deep trouble. “It’s nowhere near good enough. I hold utes later with a diving header. Liverpool, who romped to the title my hands up. It’s my decision to pick Bayern and Lewandowski had the by 18 points in the 2019/20 campaign, the team I did. Also as a squad, that’s last laugh as the prolific Polish strik- went into their match at an empty not good enough for Manchester er dispatched his spot-kick into the Villa Park with a 100 percent record in United.” bottom left corner after he was the league this season. They were The chastening defeat comes at hauled down by Maximilian missing first-choice goalkeeper the end of another difficult transfer Mittelstaedt. Alisson Becker through injury and window for United, who look to were also without Sadio Mane and have failed in their pursuit of their Thiago Alcantara, who have both test- number one target, Borussia Rafael Leao scores twice as ed positive for coronavirus, but were Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho. still expected to have too much for Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani is Milan maintain perfect start their opponents. reportedly set to join the Red Devils MILAN: Forward Rafael Leao scored But Villa forward Ollie Watkins after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, but twice as AC Milan overcame a stub- scored a first-half hat-trick and Jack it is at the other end of the pitch born Spezia 3-0 on Sunday to main- Grealish had a hand in five goals as AP/RSS that United are most in need of tain their perfect start to the Serie A Liverpool’s high line was torn apart Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (right) scored a first half-hat-trick as they inflict Liverpool seven goals in a match in any competition since 1963. reinforcements. season. Theo Hernandez was also on by the home side’s counter-attacking. Brazil left-back Alex Telles appears target as Milan, who have won all “It was unexpected but it happened training pitch but they are now head- While Liverpool will hope their with United soundly beaten 3-1 at likely to arrive from Porto but it does three games without conceding a tonight,” said Klopp, whose side lost ing off for an international break result is an anomaly, there is plenty of home by Crystal Palace and incredibly not look enough to shore up a leaky goal, extended their unbeaten run to just four league matches over the pre- before gathering again for a evidence that United have lost their fortunate to escape with a 3-2 victory defence that has shipped 11 goals in 19 games in all competitions, their vious two seasons. “We put all our tough-looking challenge at table-top- way. The Old Trafford club have not at Brighton last weekend. But they three Premier League matches. While last defeat coming against Genoa in rubbish things and mistakes in one ping Everton. “I would love to have a competed for the Premier League title sank to a new low at an echoing Old Liverpool remain favourites to win a March. Milan joined Atalanta on nine game and hopefully we can start training session tomorrow and since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 Trafford on Sunday as Harry Kane second successive Premier League points while Inter Milan and Sassuolo again.” Tuesday and to talk about it, but the but hopes were high after they fin- and Son Heung-min ran riot, scoring table despite their humbling, United have seven apiece. Spezia have three The Liverpool boss said he was des- boys go back off to international ished third last season. two goals apiece against the home already look out of the running as points after their 2-0 win at Udinese perate to get his players back on the duty,” Klopp said. That optimism has been misplaced, side, who were reduced to 10 men after they scramble for answers. on Wednesday. Milan were missing talismanic forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has tested positive for Covid-19.

Barcelona held 1-1 by Sevilla Kvitova, Tsitsipas reach French Open quarters Chennai roar to 10-wicket win BARCELONA: Philippe Coutinho scored REUTERS Andrey Rublev, with a last-four clash AGENCIES as little as possible and that can add his first league goal since returning PARIS, OCT 5 with world number one Novak DUBAI, OCT 5 pressure. Every team has furious hit- to Barcelona to help his side draw 1-1 Djokovic looming. ters who can disrupt the bowling and at home to Sevilla in La Liga on Czech left-hander Petra Kvitova Rublev reached his second succes- Persistence pays, said Chennai Super our bowlers did well. We needed Sunday as the Catalans dropped reached the French Open quarter-fi- sive Grand Slam quarter-final as he Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni momentum with the right kind of points for the first time under Ronald nals for the first time in eight years as hit back to beat Hungary’s Marton after his team of veterans finally came shots. Watto and Faf backed them- Koeman. Europa League holders she overpowered China’s Zhang Shuai Fucsovics 6-7(4) 7-5 6-4 7-6(3). good in the Indian Premier League, selves with the shots they’re known Sevilla took an early lead when for- 6-2 6-4 on Monday. The world number 12 looked in big doing the ‘small things right’ in an for.” Asked about Watson finding form ward Luuk de Jong pounced on a On yet another chilly day in the trouble when he trailed by a set and emphatic 10-wicket triumph over after failing to strike earlier, Dhoni poor headed clearance in the area French capital, seventh seed Kvitova’s 5-2 but rallied to end the run of Kings XI Punjab. said, “It’s not about being more and smashed into the net, flummox- superior firepower proved decisive as Fucsovics who had shocked Rublev’s Chennai bounced back from three aggressive. He was hitting it well in ing Barca keeper Neto. But the she posted her fourth successive compatriot Daniil Medvedev in round consecutive losses on Sunday with the nets and what you need is to do Catalans hit back less than two min- straight-sets victory. one. Fucsovics was trying to become Shane Watson (83) and Faf du Plessis that in the middle. It was just a matter utes later when club record signing With so many big names already AP/RSS the first Hungarian man to reach a (87) remaining unbeaten in a chase of of time.” Coutinho, back at the club after out, twice Wimbledon champion Stefanos Tsitsipas Grand Slam quarter-final for 39 years 179. “I think we did the small things A disappointed Punjab captain KL spending last year on loan with Kvitova will sense a golden title oppor- and will rue a missed opportunity. right. That’s what was important to Rahul said it was tough being on the Bayern Munich, reacted fastest tunity as she heads into a quarter-fi- Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the quar- On Sunday, Austrian Dominic us. The kind of start we got in batting, losing side for so many games but to fire home after a Lionel Messi nal against unseeded German Laura ter-finals of a Grand Slam for the sec- Thiem advanced into the quarter-fi- that’s what we needed. Hopefully, we’ll promised to keep trying harder. “I pass was deflected into his path. Siegemund. World number 66 ond time as he brushed aside Grigor nals ending Frenchman Hugo Gaston’s be able to replicate this in the coming thought 178 was a good score. The Barca and Sevilla each have seven Siegemund, the oldest player left in Dimitrov 6-3 7-6(9) 6-2. Last year’s ATP dream run with a 6-4 6-4 5-7 3-6 6-3 vic- games,” Dhoni said after the match. wicket stopped a bit when we started points after three games and the draw at 32, beat Spain’s Paula Finals winner Tsitsipas, whose best tory. Theim will meet Argentine 12th About the earlier three losses on the batting, we felt like 170-180 was par on are fifth and sixth in the Badosa 7-5 6-2 to reach her first Grand result at a major is reaching the seed Diego Schwartzman on Tuesday, trot, the former India captain said, “I this wicket. But we know if we don’t standings, with champions Slam quarter-final. Australian Open semi-finals in 2019, who eased past Italian Lorenzo Sonego feel looking at the first 3-4 games, what get wickets against players of this Real Madrid top on 10. (AGENCIES) In men’s actions, Greek fifth seed will next face Russian 13th seed 6-1 6-3 6-4. you really think is you restrict them to class, we’ll struggle.” HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) *** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** Your friends have never been more ardent in their One of the people around you is going to use una- Someone in your life who has always been somewhat Is your schedule flexible enough? Are you able to devotion to you, so try to think of a way to show your bashed flattery to try to get what they want. And secretive and introverted has been changing their rearrange things in order to take advantage of appreciation. This is a good day to do something that while this tactic might work on some people, it doesn’t tune lately. Suddenly they’re way more interested in last-minute opportunities? You’d better make sure involves a lot of physical movement. Go running, work on you. Your mind is way too sharp to let your- interacting with you, so much so that you might that you can move on a dime today because there is a biking, hiking, or swimming if you can. self be fooled by people who might be telling lies. start to get tired of seeing them today. lot of unpredictable energy in the air.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) ***** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) ***** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Given the fact that most of the people you’ll be You could learn something today or meet someone It’s a good day to start something, especially a new You could be in a very introspective mood right now, working with today are slow by nature, you need who educates you about an issue you thought you relationship! Whether it’s a business partnership, so take some time to evaluate your dreams. The to be prepared to wait. Watch that you don’t get already knew well. These new facts could be uncom- new friendship, or even new romance, it is highly strange images that have been invading your mind at too impatient with them. Set your expectations fortable for you at first because they don’t fit neatly likely to be successful and long lasting. You’ll have night hold valuable clues to what you’re dealing with correctly. into your world view. all the charm you need to draw people to you. in your heart.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) *** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) ***** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Whether you’re worried about saving more money or Finding balance in your life might not be something An interesting opportunity could be coming your You could get some ambiguous feedback today. But not, right now you should be suspicious of anyone you think about doing consciously, but today it’s way today, and you should take advantage of it even don’t let it distract you all day long! You’re never who promises big returns on small investments. Be important for you to mix things up and make sure if it doesn’t sound quite like your cup of tea. Toss out going to be able to figure out what they were trying to careful not to get taken for a ride. Look for true value. you’re not spending all of your time on one thing. your preconceived notions about this thing, and just tell you unless you ask, so if you don’t know what Forget the quick return. Reexamine your list of things to do. believe that it will be fun. they’re driving at, speak up. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K TUESDAY, OCTOBER 06, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 Starting small, aiming big: Game development in Nepal For years, studios from America and Japan have dominated the gaming industry. Only recently, games from other countries—like Poland and China—are gaining popularity. In this ever-expanding industry, how do Nepali game developers fare?

PRAJESH SJB RANA platforms require international payment accounts and many even charge develop- rom the humble beginnings of ers to publish games on their stores. Pong, the gaming industry Without an international payment gate- today has mushroomed into a way, this causes further problems for massive multi-billion-dollar local development studios like Yarsa industry. Today, gaming compa- Games. nies all around the world pour “We couldn’t even pay $25 to Google Fmillions of dollars into the development Play Store and $99 to Apple to publish our and production of games made possible apps on their stores during the early by the increasing number of gamers all days,” says Subedi. “None of the banks over the world. we approached were willing to pay on our Even in Nepal, the gaming scene has behalf as well. Like everyone, we also had slowly started growing with professional to ask our relatives to make the pay- gamers, eSports tournaments, and mobile ments.” gaming taking over local digital plat- Apart from paying digital distributors, forms. There are thousands of Nepali many developers also have to pay for the players playing games on their phones— tools they need for development. All of like the massively popular PUBG and the developers we talked to work with one Among Us—as well as on their PCs, like game engine or the other. Game develop- DOTA 2, League of Legends, and Counter ment engines like Unity3D run for $1,800/ Strike. year (Pro) paired with 3D modelling soft- But almost all of the games that local ware and graphic design software adding players are playing are developed and to this cost further. Most of these soft- published by massive international gam- ware also demand high-performance ing conglomerates. For years, studios workstation machines as well. For indie from America and Japan have dominated developers who can’t afford much mas- the gaming industry. Only with the recent sive set-up costs, Epic’s Unreal Engine popularity of games like The Witcher, offers interesting royalty free options for from the Polish company CD Projekt Red, small developers. Red Tail Studios, how- and PUBG, published by the Chinese com- ever, has managed to design their own pany Tencent, have we seen the entry of in-house HTML5 game development games from studios of other countries. engine for 2D mobile games called Red But in this ever-expanding industry, how Tail Engine. do Nepali game developers fare? Regardless of all the doom and gloom “I think game development is still in its around game development in Nepal, nascent stage in Nepal,” says Sashreek developers are hopeful for the future and Shrestha, 26, developer of the game Momo acknowledge the growth in the industry. Bounce. “There might be some companies There are more and more mobile games that outsource game development work, being developed in Nepal and more devel- but the game development industry is opment studios starting up in Nepal. still too young in Nepal.” Using free and open-source software like And while there are many local compa- Blender also helps the studio minimise nies that are developing games in Nepal— costs even though they limit performance like AR Cube, Semantic Creations, Yarsa since they’re not the best tools in the mar- Games, Reizon Studios and Red Tail ket. Studios—the Nepali game development “I think more and more people are industry still seems to be in its infancy as going to get into game development local game developers face various prob- because there is an undeniable steep rise lems that hinder growth. SHUTTERSTOCK in the players’ engagement from Nepal. “I think it’s only been about five years economic feasibility. have.” gamers have a tendency to download eas- We have some popular game streamers on game development activities started in “Large-scale triple A games are not Subedi, 28, founded Yarsa Games in ily available cracked games online for YouTube, like 4K Gaming, Nero, Nepal,” says Uttam Adhikari, 32, co-found- exactly economically feasible in Nepal” 2016 by self-funding the company after free which further disincentivises gam- HypeGurkha, and Mr Hyuzu. Some er and CEO of Red Tail Fox Pvt. Ltd (Red says Adhikari, who has five years’ experi- one of his personal mobile app projects ers to pay for local games when they can popular apps like Hamro Patro and Daraz Tail Studio) and former co-founder and ence in local game development. Large- started making some money. After a year access triple A titles for free, say develop- are also enabling users to play games CEO of the now defunct Sroth Code scale AAA games are to the gaming or so, his brother, Rahul Subedi, after ers. This causes even more problems for inside their apps. All these things are Games. “But local and original content is industry what blockbusters are for the completing his Software Engineering game developers who struggle to find contributing a little bit towards improv- limited. As a result, there is a scarcity of film industry. “The Nepali economy just course, joined the company as well. While revenue for their studios apart from ing the local gaming market,” says game developers, game designers, game cannot support game studios with a Subedi says that he’s faced many hurdles advertising revenue. Subedi. artists and game project managers to budget of a large-scale AAA game. These during and after founding Yarsa Games, “How many people in Nepal actually But for game development studios in attempt big game development projects.” kinds of projects normally start from a the enthusiasm he and his team have for buy games? How many of those actually Nepal to be self-reliant and profitable, it Thus, all of the games that have been couple of million dollars and can hike up making games is what drives the studio to try new games?” says Shrestha. “I think will take years of work. However, with an developed in Nepal till date are simple to tens of millions of dollars. There aren’t create more games. that digital globalisation makes it harder ever-growing gaming community and mobile games. Shrestha’s Momo Bounce any investors in Nepal who are willing or “As a bootstrapped company, we have for any niche/Nepali developers to get passionate developers pushing the indus- is an endless jumper mobile game with are capable to take risks to this extent in been able to sustain our business by cre- their work noticed on international plat- try forward, the future is promising, say the momo (dumpling) as the protagonist. Nepal.” ating simple games. There’s obviously a forms. A console game can cost anywhere developers. Yarsa Games’ comprehensive catalogue Nj Subedi, CEO, founder and director lot of money to be made by making better, between $20-50 and as a customer, you “For young, up-and-coming game devel- of 11 games are all mobile games that are of the Pokhara-based Yarsa Games, ech- more significant games but the simplicity would want games that are worth the opers in Nepal, working on creating good derivatives of physical board and card oes Adhikari. “Nepal has a vast talent of our games is really working well for price. Customers only know about the gaming experiences and starting with games. In the same vein, Red Tail Studio pool that can be mobilised for game devel- us,” he says. quality of your game through reviews smaller gaming projects is key,” says has also produced the mobile game Red opment. We have great artists, designers In the mobile gaming scene, the compe- and gameplay videos. One could argue Adhikari. “With experience you’ll be able Tail Fox Jump. Sroth Code Games, and animators working on Hollywood tition is intense and surviving quite chal- that if Nepali developers aren’t being able to create more complex and bigger pro- Adhikari’s previous game development movies and AAA Games,” he says. lenging. Local game developers say they to tap into international media, there are jects later. Having the right launching studio, was one of the only local studios “Developers from Nepal are already work- can’t sustain themselves by marketing gaming markets like Steam, Google Play strategy and partner network will make to attempt to develop a highly ambitious ing for the companies in Australia, the and catering to a largely Nepali audience and App Store, but it’s not easy for Nepali the game development industry sustaina- open-world PC and mobile game, USA and the European countries. What’s since there is little to no means of monet- developers to enter these platforms and ble and profitable.” Chronicles of the Himalayas. The project, lacking is a huge game development stu- isation. They have to compete with games collect revenue from them when there Adhikari says, was way too ambitious for dio that can pay-match foreign countries. from all over the world to even dream isn’t even an international payment plat- Rana is a Kathmandu-based tech writer the current game development industry People aren’t going to work for a gaming about their games turning a profit. In form to simplify this process.” who has been covering all things tech for in Nepal. The main reason, he says, is studio only because it’s a cool career to addition, due to rampant piracy, Nepali All international game distribution the past decade.

Good grief! ‘Peanuts’ celebrates 70th anniversary with art The beloved comic celebrates its 70th anniversary this week hoping to raise the spirits of sick kids by donating Peanuts murals for kids to paint in 70 children’s hospitals around the globe.

MARK KENNEDY in its auditorium, while the California NEW YORK hospital wants to give one panel each to four patients and two nurses. The hope is he virus pandemic won’t stop the finished murals will offer children a Charlie Brown, Snoopy or the chance to leave a permanent mark on the Peanuts gang from marking facility. an important birthday and “They could come to the hospital for they’re hoping to raise the their next check-up and see their mural is spirits of sick kids while they out there and they provided the painting Tcelebrate. maybe for the head or the stomach or The beloved comic celebrates its 70th whatever part of Snoopy that they did,” anniversary this week with new Viswanathan said. lesson plans, the announcement of Other initiatives launching to celebrate a new TV show and a philanthropic the Peanuts anniversary include an ani- push that includes donating Peanuts mated video campaign on social media murals for kids to paint in 70 children’s urging viewers to be kind to each other, hospitals around the globe, from Brooklyn Earth and themselves. There’s also a new to Brazil. Apple TV+ animated show debuting in “When kids see the familiar face of February called The Snoopy Show. Snoopy, they feel like they are at home Peanuts made its debut October 2, 1950. watching the cartoon,” said Dr Kusum The travails of the “little round-headed Viswanathan, who heads the pediatrics kid” Charlie Brown and his pals department at Brookdale University eventually ran in more than 2,600 newspa- Hospital Medical Center in New York. “I pers, reaching millions of readers in 75 think it’ll really help in positive coping countries. and distraction. It makes the environ- The strip offered enduring images of ment very comfortable, as opposed to kites in trees, Charlie Brown trying to being very stiff and professional.” kick a football, tart-tongued Lucy hand- The 4-foot-8-inch wide by 4-foot-1-inch ing out advice for a nickel at what looked high murals have been sent to participat- like a lemonade stand and Snoopy taking ing hospitals in six pieces, along with the occasional flight of fancy to the skies smocks, brushes and paints in 13 colours. of World War I. Phrases such as “security Children and hospital staffers are blanket” and “good grief” are a part of encouraged to paint the easy-to-follow the global vernacular. Schulz died in 2000. templates, a diversion that gains even The hospital administrators say that more importance during coronavirus Peanuts teaches children that the world is restrictions. big enough for everybody, appreciate the The initiative is being welcomed at the small things and embrace friendships. CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange, AP/RSS Those lessons, they say, fit with their California, where the virus pandemic has Kaley Williams, 8, paints a panel of a Peanuts mural that will be placed in the outpatient pediatric floor of One Brooklyn Health at Brookdale Hospital. mission. shut down the playrooms and cut back on “It teaches about kindness and friend- starry, well-wishing visitors, like baseball this time,” said Amber Chavez, the spe- Foundation for Hospital Art. They hope lar check-up—it’s always a slightly scary ship,” Viswanathan said. “It teaches our star Mike Trout. cial programs coordinator. the custom murals bring a smile to wor- event and I think it helps patients feel a children that life has challenges but with “There’s really nothing to look forward The finished murals show an image of ried families. sense of normalcy.” support from friends, you can solve prob- to so I thought even just painting some- Snoopy and Woodstock sharing a “Art is always very therapeutic,” How each hospital deploys the murals lems. I think it teaches them not to thing like this at bedside is going to really laugh atop his red doghouse. It’s co-spon- Viswanathan said. “Any child who has been left to the local administrators. give up.” truly mean something, especially during sored by Peanuts Worldwide and the comes—even if a child comes for a regu- Brookdale let lots of children paint them —Associated Press

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